Week Two: Research and Brainstorming for Our Level Design

This week, our team made significant strides in shaping our project by deciding on the level design theme based on Rifts England. With a clear direction in mind, we divided tasks among team members to conduct in-depth research on the narrative and potential game and level design references.

Team member Lisa, doing research gameplay on Kena.

Team members Lisa, Xixi and Wuji, the entire team having meeting about verbs and level directions during brainstorm meetings

Throughout the week, each team member explored different aspects of the project, diving into gameplay mechanics, visual references, and engine choices. After gathering valuable insights, we reconvened to share our findings and officially kicked off our first brainstorming session, bringing together diverse ideas to shape our level.

Using Figma board for research, reference and comment.

Individual Contributions:

Albert & Wuji

• Collaborated to summarize and analyze gameplay mechanics from a level design perspective.
• Explored the concept of “Use a Mechanic to Build a Mechanic” to design new gameplay elements.
• Researched ability designs across various game genres to draw inspiration.

Lisa

• Collected visual references focusing on stylized forest environments and shaders.
• Analyzed the level design of the tutorial section in Hogwarts Legacy (30-minute segment).
• Searched for potential environment models in the Unreal Engine asset store.

Yuhuai

• Researched the magic system within the Rifts universe to align our gameplay with the lore.
• Analyzed spell-related VFX to ensure immersive and visually appealing magic effects.

Xixi

• Conducted research and analysis on the intro level of Kena: Bridge of Spirits, extracting valuable design elements.
• Set up overall timelines and scope for the project.

Tianyi

• Investigated the best game engine for our project by comparing asset stores and rendering pipelines.
• Conducted a case study on magic world examples to inform our design choices.

Ashling & Lisa

• Ashling focused on analyzing the narrative structure within Rifts RPG to ensure authenticity.
• Together, they set up the overall art direction, establishing a strong visual foundation for the project.

With all the research compiled, our brainstorming session opened the floor for ideas, allowing us to explore creative possibilities and start shaping the core gameplay experience.

Looking ahead, we are excited to begin translating our ideas into tangible design concepts and prototypes. Stay tuned for more updates as we bring our vision to life!